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France & Belgium, rivals on top of the world
<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="en"><head><meta charSet="utf-8"/><title>France & Belgium, rivals on top of the world</title><meta id="elastic-search" content="{"id":"0xc57b5490ddb78545a73ddf72e336aa42","title":"France & Belgium, rivals on top of the world","contentDate":"2018-12-30T08:25:00","description":"It is traditional at this time of year to cast a look back over the previous 12 months. When it comes to weighing up best national team of 2018, the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking has a ready-made answer: Belgium. The Red Devils lie a point ahead of Fr...","image":{"id":"83491B3F87957FE7761AB83BFED3B943","originalSrc":"https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/579dc750be39f474/original/vg5ooxa5bz6gv5xsz7fv-jpg.jpg","src":"https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/579dc750be39f474/webimage-vg5ooxa5bz6gv5xsz7fv-jpg.png","width":5000,"height":3043,"title":"Composite image of Romelu Lukaku (2ndL) with Eden Hazard (R) and Antoine Griezmann (L) with Kylian Mbappe (2ndR).","alt":"In this composite image a comparison has been made between Belgian players Romelu Lukaku (2ndL) with Eden Hazard (R) and French players Antoine Griezmann (L) with Kylian Mbappe (2ndR). Belgium and France meet in one of the FIFA World Cup 2018 semi finals. (Photo by FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)","caption":"In this composite image a comparison has been made between Belgian players Romelu Lukaku (2ndL) with Eden Hazard (R) and French players Antoine Griezmann (L) with Kylian Mbappe (2ndR). Belgium and France meet in one of the FIFA World Cup 2018 semi finals. 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class="overline ff-text-grey-slate ff-mb-16 "><span></span><span class="capitalize-transform-text">Sunday 30 December 2018, 08:25</span></div><div class="hero-article_tagWrapper__1wzD8"><a class="link-module_link__F9IVG undefined" href="/fifa-world-ranking/men"><span class="interactive-tag-module_relatedTag__7ztbD">Men's Ranking</span></a></div><h3 class=" hero-article_heroTitle__6uwR8">France & Belgium, rivals on top of the world</h3></div></div></div></div></div><div class="hero-article_imageBackground__KK3UX"><div class=""><div class="container"><div class="row justify-content-center undefined"><div class="col-sm-12 col-md-12 hero-article_heroImageWrapper__Ah1SH null"><div class="background-image-with-overlay_imagesContainer__v0rLc undefined"><div class="undefined background-image_container__6uvwO "><div style="aspect-ratio:1/1;background-color:transparent" class="d-block d-sm-none ratio ratio-1x1 background-image_backgroundImage__Fb1Zr "><div 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style="background-image:url(https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/579dc750be39f474/webimage-vg5ooxa5bz6gv5xsz7fv-jpg.png?tx=c_fill,ar_1.78,g_auto,q_auto:best,w_1400,e_colorize:15,co_rgb:000f2c);--aspect-ratio:calc(9 / 16 * 100%);background-position:center" class="background-image_backgroundImage__Fb1Zr"></div></div><div style="aspect-ratio:16/9;background-color:transparent" class="d-none d-xxl-block ratio ratio-16x9 background-image_backgroundImage__Fb1Zr "><div style="background-image:url(https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/579dc750be39f474/webimage-vg5ooxa5bz6gv5xsz7fv-jpg.png?tx=c_fill,ar_1.78,g_auto,q_auto:best,w_2048,e_colorize:15,co_rgb:000f2c);--aspect-ratio:calc(9 / 16 * 100%);background-position:center" class="background-image_backgroundImage__Fb1Zr"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ff-bg-grey-lightest"><div class="container"><div class="ff-py-48"><div class="row justify-content-center"><div class="col-lg-9 d-flex flex-column"><div><div class="rich-text-module_richTextContainer__PuOgN ff-rich-text-new_richTextContainer__q5QcB"><div data-slate-editor="true" data-slate-node="value" contenteditable="false" zindex="-1" style="position:relative;outline:none;white-space:pre-wrap;word-wrap:break-word"><div class=""><ul class="rich-text-module_unorderedList__WIR35" data-slate-node="element"><div class="ff-rich-text-new_richTextListItem__PE_lb"><li class="rich-text-module_li__cza1T" data-slate-node="element"><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><b><span data-slate-string="true">Belgium and France are first and second in FIFA World Ranking</span></b></span></span></p></div></li></div><div class="ff-rich-text-new_richTextListItem__PE_lb"><li class="rich-text-module_li__cza1T" data-slate-node="element"><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><b><span data-slate-string="true">The Red Devils hold a one-point advantage over </span></b></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><i><b><span data-slate-string="true">Les Bleus</span></b></i></span></span></p></div></li></div><div class="ff-rich-text-new_richTextListItem__PE_lb"><li class="rich-text-module_li__cza1T" data-slate-node="element"><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><b><span data-slate-string="true">Their semi-final at Russia 2018 kicked off a lively debate</span></b></span></span></p></div></li></div></ul></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true">It is traditional at this time of year to cast a look back over the previous 12 months. When it comes to weighing up best national team of 2018, the </span></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><a href="https://www.fifa.com/fr/fifa-world-ranking/">FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking</a></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true"> has a ready-made answer: Belgium. The Red Devils lie a point ahead of France at the top of the standings, though they would surely swap that honour for the title of world champions clinched by in July.</span></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true">The game itself was won by France after Samuel Umtiti made the difference by heading in from a corner. His goal took </span></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><i><span data-slate-string="true">Les Bleus</span></i></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true"> within one final step of the promised land – and left the Red Devils nursing heartbreak and regrets.</span></span></span></p></div><div class="undefined"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><div class=" undefined test"><div id="03A0555F8C862EC39636D444EF9A6E52d1067a2d-0d92-4a6e-a5de-1ce3c51ab394" class="ff-pt-16 ff-pb-32 ff-social-media-embed_socialMedia__TGkqG ff-social-media-embed_fluidWidthPost__89mWg"><div></div></div></div></span></span></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><b><span data-slate-string="true">Did you know?</span></b></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><i><span data-slate-string="true">France have met Belgium 74 times, more than any other nation, but only on three occasions at the World Cup. Before their semi-final in Russia, their most recent encounter at the tournament had been the play-off for third place at Mexico 1986, when France triumphed 4-2 after extra time</span></i></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><b><span data-slate-string="true">What they said</span></b></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true">"It's frustrating because we lost to a team that isn't better than us. Today we lost to a team that didn't play at all and just defended." </span></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><b><span data-slate-string="true">Thibaut Courtois, Belgium goalkeeper</span></b></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true">"I prefer losing with this Belgium team than winning with this France team." </span></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><b><span data-slate-string="true">Eden Hazard, Belgium winger</span></b></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true">"I put that down to their huge disappointment. With a bit more distance and a little clarity, perhaps they'll realise we were a lot more dangerous than them. Besides, how did they play against Brazil in the quarter-finals? Like we did against them." </span></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><b><span data-slate-string="true">Didier Deschamps, France coach (speaking to </span></b></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><i><b><span data-slate-string="true">Le Monde)</span></b></i></span></span></p></div><div class="undefined"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><div class=" undefined test"><div id="FF0C4661DED7D0B130991A5112758D924237403b-708c-455f-9182-77dfe11fc78a" class="ff-pt-16 ff-pb-32 ff-social-media-embed_socialMedia__TGkqG ff-social-media-embed_fluidWidthPost__89mWg"><div></div></div></div></span></span></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><b><span data-slate-string="true">The stat</span></b></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><b><span data-slate-string="true">24 –</span></b></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true"> </span></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><i><span data-slate-string="true">At Russia 2018, France ended Belgium's run of 24 matches without defeat. Roberto Martinez's side had not lost since a 2-0 friendly reverse at the hands of Spain on 1 September 2016.</span></i></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true">Courtois, Hazard and Deschamps all set the tone as that mouth-watering contest on 10 July 2018 sparked plenty of discussion. The stakes were clearly high and the derby dynamic fed the intrigue, but above all the game provided a clash of football philosophies, with Belgium's flamboyant attacking play pitted against France's ironclad defence. In the end, it was the latter which came out on top.</span></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true">Since then, the two sides have continued to champion their own approaches to the game. Their momentum also seemed to stall at the same moment. Both missed out on a spot in the UEFA Nations League finals after defeats in the last round of group games, </span></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><i><span data-slate-string="true">Les Bleus</span></i></span></span><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true"> succumbing 2-0 to the Netherlands and the Red Devils losing 5-2 to Switzerland.</span></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><span data-slate-string="true">Despite those setbacks, France head into 2019 as world champions and Belgium sit proudly atop the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, setting them both apart as the big winners on the global stage this year.</span></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><b><span data-slate-string="true">Did you know?</span></b></span></span></p></div><div class="ff-text-grey-slate"><p class="rich-text-module_p__zIItW" data-slate-node="element"><span data-slate-node="text"><span contenteditable="false" data-slate-leaf="true"><i><span data-slate-string="true">Belgium have the upper hand in head-to-head contests, having won 41 per cent to France's 33 per cent, but the French have triumphed in each of their tournament encounters.</span></i></span></span></p></div></div></div></div><div class="related-topics_mainContainer__85AS1"><div class="related-topics_relatedTopicsHeader___d9vT">Related Topics</div><div class="related-topics_tagsContainer__ghirM"><a class="link-module_link__F9IVG undefined" href="/fifa-world-ranking/men"><span class="interactive-tag-module_relatedTag__7ztbD">Men's Ranking</span></a><a class="link-module_link__F9IVG undefined" href="/fifa-world-ranking"><span class="interactive-tag-module_relatedTag__7ztbD">World Ranking</span></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div></div></div><button class="fc-scroll-to-top_scrollTop__bKd4A" type="button" aria-label="Scroll to top" style="display:none"><i>^</i></button><div class="container"><div class="row ff-pb-8"><div class="col-12"><a href="#optanon-show-settings-link" id="optanon-show-settings-link" style="cursor:pointer;font-size:0.8rem" class="overline ff-text-blue-cinema optanon-show-settings card-heading-tiny">Cookie Settings</a></div></div></div><div id="modal-portal"></div></div><script id="__NEXT_DATA__" type="application/json">{"props":{"pageProps":{"parent":{"id":"0x220996850234674ea12bcab480224f5f","title":"Article Page \u003e France \u0026 Belgium, rivals on top of the world","contentDate":"2018-12-30T08:25:00","type":"ArticlePage","selection":[{"label":"France \u0026 Belgium, rivals on top of the world","languageId":"en","slug":"/en/news/france-belgium-rivals-on-top-of-the-world--3012-3012571","value":"English"},{"label":"Francia y Bélgica: una mano a mano en la cima del mundo","languageId":"es","slug":"/es/news/francia-y-belgica-una-mano-a-mano-en-la-cima-del-mundo","value":"español"},{"label":"France-Belgique, entre émulation et domination","languageId":"fr","slug":"/fr/news/france-belgique-entre-emulation-et-domination","value":"français"}]},"richTextProps":{"document":{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Belgium and France are first and second in FIFA World Ranking","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"The Red Devils hold a one-point advantage over ","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"Les Bleus","marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Their semi-final at Russia 2018 kicked off a lively debate","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"list-item"}],"nodeType":"unordered-list"},{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"It is traditional at this time of year to cast a look back over the previous 12 months. When it comes to weighing up best national team of 2018, the ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.fifa.com/fr/fifa-world-ranking/"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"nodeType":"text","value":" has a ready-made answer: Belgium. The Red Devils lie a point ahead of France at the top of the standings, though they would surely swap that honour for the title of ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"world champions clinched by ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":" in July.","marks":[],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"The game itself was won by France after Samuel Umtiti ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"made the difference by heading in","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":" from a corner. 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Before their semi-final in Russia, their most recent encounter at the tournament had been the play-off for third place at Mexico 1986, when France triumphed 4-2 after extra time","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"What they said","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"\"It's frustrating because we lost to a team that isn't better than us. Today we lost to a team that didn't play at all and just defended.\"\n","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"Thibaut Courtois, Belgium goalkeeper","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"\"I prefer losing with this Belgium team than winning with this France team.\"\n","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"Eden Hazard, Belgium winger","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"\"I put that down to their huge disappointment. With a bit more distance and a little clarity, perhaps they'll realise we were a lot more dangerous than them. Besides, how did they play against Brazil in the quarter-finals? Like we did against them.\"\n","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"Didier Deschamps, France coach (speaking to ","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"Le Monde)","marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{"target":{"url":"https://twitter.com/ThomMills/status/1016798732694835200","id":"FF0C4661DED7D0B130991A5112758D92","__typeName":"socialMediaPost"}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"The stat","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"24 –","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":" ","marks":[],"data":{}},{"nodeType":"text","value":"At Russia 2018, France ended Belgium's run of 24 matches without defeat. Roberto Martinez's side had not lost since a 2-0 friendly reverse at the hands of Spain on 1 September 2016.","marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Courtois, Hazard and Deschamps all set the tone as that mouth-watering contest on 10 July 2018 sparked plenty of discussion. The stakes were clearly high and the derby dynamic fed the intrigue, but above all the game provided a clash of football philosophies, with Belgium's flamboyant attacking play pitted against France's ironclad defence. In the end, it was the latter which came out on top.","marks":[],"data":{}}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"nodeType":"text","value":"Since then, the two sides have continued to champion their own approaches to the game. Their momentum also seemed to stall at the same moment. 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